10 Years and Counting

Beginning with a tiny Flash-based website (with music!),  and into the current Drupal-powered version, DanMoriarty.com has been around a good long while. Long enough to feel I’m looking at embarrassing old high school photos, when looking back at my website from 10 years ago (see shot of old site in IE for Mac).

Beginning as Dan Moriarty Freelance Graphic Design, in the year 2000, I started on a path of operating my own business. After working a number of years for an in-house graphics department and as part of a marketing firm's design group, I decided to try out on my own, offering both print and web design services to whoever would have me. 

In the past 10 years I've made not only websites, but logos, business stationery, trade show booths, posters, catalogs, brochures, Flash animations, web banner ads, and much much more. Around 2006, I stopped advertising the print side of things, focusing my attention and message on web design and development.

Here's a brief history:

• 2000-2006, Dan Moriarty Freelance Graphic Design
• 2006-2009, Dan Moriarty Freelance Web Design
• 2010, Dan Moriarty Design

You'll note my name hasn't changed all that much, and coincidentally, I am still known as Dan Moriarty. But the world of design and the Web certainly has changed over the past 10 years. It's been a fun challenge keeping up the changes. So what I can share about my years in business?

What Have I Learned?

Having worked independently for so long, I feel there should some words of wisdom to pass on to anyone thinking of starting their own business. Of course, that is an entirely different article or presentation (or book?). But I'll start with a quick list:

• Show Up - Many independent contractors/freelancers have a tendency to disappear at some point. They get the full-time job they really wanted all along, they move, they change careers, etc. Who knows where they go. But show up for work every day, and you've already got a leg up on the competition.
• Follow Up - Along the same lines of showing up, you can give yourself a big advantage by following up with the people who contact you. It seems obvious, but again, not everyone does it. It doesn't mean you have to answer emails and calls immediately as they come in. But make sure clients know they can expect a reply, and that you are responsible and attentive.
• Adapt - Whatever you're doing today could change tomorrow. When I started a graphic design, it was around the time that computers were replacing the old methods of print production. And many good people with years of experience in pasteups and typesetting has skills that were becoming obsolete. I learned early on that not only does the nature of business change, but so do the skills that are in demand. Some skills are always useful, such as understanding design, knowing how to write, math, etc. These are good foundations. But unless you are teaching these in the classroom, you need more than foundations. You need specific skills that you can offer, and a career that requires you change with the times, and stay flexible. You need to adapt to change.
• Know What You Do (and don't do) - Develop a clear sense of the type of customer, or type of project you are prepared for. Sometimes a project comes along that is perfect fit for your skills, and you have time in the schedule and the budget is reasonable. But not everything is going to work. Sometimes the timeline is too short, or technical requirements too high, or budget is too tight. It helps with your time and the customer's time as well, if you know when a certain project needs to be passed on. You hate turn away business, but sometimes it's for the best.
• Be yourself - Not everyone is going to like what you do or who you are. If you try, you're going to end up watering you or your company down to the point where it's just not that interesting to anyone. And that includes yourself. Everyone has a unique personality– try to share yours in your work. In doing so, you'll risk turning some business away, but hopefully you'll be attracting the kind of business that suits you. The results will be better for you and your clients. And you'll have a lot more fun showing up for work each day.

Thanks to all the clients who have made these 10 years possible. There should be a party! (seriously there should).

• Random Thoughts